Steam-trap.



Patented Apr. I7, |900.

R. J. FLINN.

STEAM TRAP.

(Application Bled Aug. 22, 1599.)

(No Modal.)

Uivrrnn Sfratrns (PATENT OFFICE..

RICHARD J. FLINN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,654, dated April17', 1900.

Application tiled August 22, 1899. Serial No. 728,060. (No model.)

To ctZl/ wiz/0m 'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. FLINN, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Steam-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steaint1aps of the kind described in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 514,883, granted to me FebruarylB, 189i. Insaid Letters Patent is described a trap consisting of a body portiondivided by a horizontal flexible diaphragm into two chambers orcompartments connected by separate stand-pipes with an elevatedcondensing-chamber, which receives the steam and water of condensation.An outlet for the water of condensation leads from the compartment abovethe diaphragm, and a valve operated by fluctuations of the diaphragm andnormally pressed open by a spring controls this outlet. The trap worksbythe differential action of two unequal columns of water in the twostand-pipes. The longer column of waterexerts a pressure underneath thediaphragm, which Itends to balance the pressure of the spring and of theshorter column ot' water above the diaphragm. .When the formerpredominates, the valve is held closed and is opened when the shortercolumn, fed by the accumulating water of condensation, has risen to asufficient height to overbalance with the assistance of the spring thepressure of the longer column. A portion of the water of condensationthen iiows off through the outlet from the trap and the valve againcloses.

The present invention has for one object to provide means whereby theliquidpressure on the two sides of the diaphragm may be equalized andthe full force ofthe spring called into action to open the valve when itis desired to blow out the trap or temporarily accelerate thecirculation therein for the purpose of removing obstructions orsediment.

Another object of the invention is to dispose of accumulations of airunderneath the diaphragm which tend to affect the working of the trap.

The invention also has for its object to improve the structure of thevalve and related parts.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and arrangement hereinafter described andclaimed.

Of the accompanying` drawings, Figure l represents a vertical sectionalView of a steamtrap embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 represents avertical section, on an enlarged scale, showing the valve and adjacentparts.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in both figures.

Referring to the drawings, a designates the body oi' the steam-trap, thesame being divided by a thin flexible diaphragm or partition b into twoseparate chambers or com partments 2 c is an elevated receiving andcondensing chamber connected by a stand-pipe d with the compartment 2above the diaphragm and by a second stand-pipe c with the compartment 3below the diaphragm. The compartment 2 has an outlet d', controlled by avalve g,which is supported by the diaphragm Z) and normally pressed openby a spring 7a.

In operation the trap is connected tothe steam system which it drainsthrough an inlet c' in the top of the chamber c, and the water ofcondensation dowing into the chamber fills the compartment 3 beneath thediaphragm and also fills the stand-pipe c and the chamberc up tothelevelof the inlet d to the stand pipe d. The water overflows into thepipe (l and tills the compartment 2 above the diaph ragm, furnishing acounter-pressa re to that of the column of water in the pipe c, whichacts underneath the diaphragm. When thc column in the pipe d has reacheda point about midway of said pipe, the pressure of said column, togetherwith that of the spring 7i on the upper side of the diaphragm i),becomes equal to the pressure of the column in the pipe e on the lowerside of the diaphragm, and any further increase in the height ot' thewater in pipe d opens 4the valve and allows the water to escape throughthe outlet a. W'hen the level of the water in pipe CZ has fallen belowthe point of equal pressures, the valve closes.

At d2 the bottom of the trap is brought up close to the diaphragm Z) toform a rest, which prevents excessive bending of the diaphragm by theaction of the spring 7L when unbalanced by pressure from beneath.

At a I have shown a by-pass or small con duit connecting thecompartments 2 and 3 on IOO either side of the diaphragm l) in the body`a of the trap. At the top of the vertical portion of said by-pass isavalve-seat (t4. 7c represents a valve adapted to open and close againstsaid Valve-seat and having a screwstem lo passing through a stuiiing-boxand provided at its upper end with a hand-Wheel 7a2.

During the normal working of the trap the valve 7o is screwed downagainst its seat, so as to close the by-pass a3. In case, however, theValve g should become obstructed by a chip or sediment, so as to preventits closing tight against its seat, the water would then becomeexhausted from the compartment 2 and steam would be allowed to escape.Vhen such a condition arises, the valve 7e in the by-pass a3 is opened,so as to equalize the water-pressures on both sides of the diaphragm b.This allows the valve g to open to its fullest extent under the fullpressure of the spring 7i and permits the steam to enter and blow outthe obstruction. The valve 7tis then closed and the trap allowed toyresume its normal working. Another use for the by-pass as and valve k isto cause a circulation through the pipe e and compartment 3 to preventan accumulation of sediment beneath .the diaphragm.

A difficulty sometimes encountered in traps of this description is theaccumulation of a thin film of air underneath the diaphragm b, whichhinders more or less the perfect working of the trap. This air whenpresent ordinarily has no means of escape; but a feature of my presentinvention is to perforate the diaphragm b with one or more very minuteholes b b, which will allow the air to pass through the diaphragm intothe chamber 2, but are of insufiicient size to permit the passage ofyany large quantity of water. This provides aminute permanently-openpassage between the two compartments which will permit the passage ofair and water from the lower to the upper compartment, so as toautomatically equalize the liquid-pressures in the compartments afterthe condensation is shut off from the trap. Therefore the spring or itsequivalent is free to exert its full force to depress the diaphragm andopen the discharge-valve, so that steam remaining in the trap aftertheinlet-valve is closed will eject water remaining in the trap, therebypreventingfreezin g of the same when the trap is placed in an exposedposition or location. 'When a freer communication between the twocompartments than is afforded by said perforation is desired, theby-pass valve 7c is opened, as above described. In practice I have foundthat two holes, one on either side of the center of the diaphragm,answer the purpose.

The valve g is provided with a stem g', which works in a guide f,screwed into the top of the trap-body a, and at the lower end of saidstem is a iiat head or fiange g2, which rests on the diaphragm b. Thespring 7i abuts at its lower.l end against the upper side of the flangeg2 and at its upper end is confined by an adjustable nut 1i, screwing ona threaded portion of the guide f. Said nut is preferably constructed asa split collar internally threaded and sprung around the guide, so as toturn with considerable friction thereon, and is formed with a millededge. When it is desired to adjust the tension of the spring h, it maybedone by removing a screw-plugj from a hole in the side of the trapopposite the nut t' and inserting a screw-driver or other suitableappliance through said hole to engage the edge of the nut and turn thelatter. In the upper end of the guidefis formed a vertical passage f,communicating with the outlet a and having at its lower end a seat forthe valve g, and below said part is a horizontal passage f2, connectingwith said passage f' and affording an inlet from the compartment 2.

I claiml. In a steam-trap the combination of two chambers orcompartments separated by a flexible diaphragm, an outlet for the waterof condensation leading from one of said compartments, a valvecontrolling said outlet, a spring or equivalentnormally holding saidvalve open and adapted to be operated by differential liquid-pressu reson opposite sides of the diaphragm, a by-pass connecting saidcompartments,`whereby the said liquid-pressures may be equalized, and avalve controlling said by-pass.

2. In a steam-trap, the combination of two chambers or compartmentsseparated by a flexible diaphragm, an outlet for the water ofcondensation leading from one of said compartments, a valve controllingsaid outlet, means, such as a spring normally holding said valve openand adapted to be operated by dierential liquid-pressures on oppositesides of the diaphragm, a by-pass connecting said compartments wherebythe said liquid-pressures may be equalized, and a valve controlling saidley-pass, a minute permanently-open passage between the two compartmentsbeing provided to permit of a communication from the lower to the uppercompartment.

3. In a steam-trap, the combination of a chamber or compartment havingan outlet for the water of condensation, a valve controlling said outletand havinga stem provided with a fiange, a guide for said stem, a nutadjustable on said guide, a spring interposed be- IOO IIO

tween said nut and the flange on the valvestem, an opening in the wallof the compartment located opposite said nut for the insertion of anappliance to turn the nut, means for closing said opening, and means foroperating the valve in opposition to the pressure /of the spring.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

RICHARD J. FLINN. Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN,

E. BATGHELDER.

